On the Issue of Radicalization in Today’s World
N
ot all processes of radicalization
have acts of violence as either their
goal or their outcome. But generally nowadays
with the term “radicalization”, we are prone to
refer to individuals who are moved towards
beliefs deemed “extreme” by civil society.
Today, very often, online and offline
communications play a part in radicalization
processes.
Rosanna Torsello
I.I.S.S. "E.Fermi"
Italy
I think that international
cooperation among schools can do
much to prevent radicalization and
combat violent extremisms.
10
Many people believe that social media can lead
vulnerable individuals to resort to violence. In
fact, it happens to be that social media are used
by violent extremists to manipulate fragile
people. Usually these people are young and are
looking for a root ideology, that, they think,
better represents their sense of belonging. One
of the fundamental needs of humanity is, in fact,
the necessity of an identity. The process of
radicalization leads directly to the false certainty
of having arrived to a clear definition of one's
self, even if it implies the use of violence.
Schools have a fundamental role in this sense, I
think that international cooperation among
schools can do much to prevent radicalization
and combat violent extremisms.
For example, they can foster the Human Rights
knowledge, and they can promote programmes
in favour of non-violent conflict resolution,
while backing up mutual understanding.
Our project In Sight In Mind responds at least to
the last of these requests.